Postcards from Nowhere

1.28.2012

2012 is here

It's been awhile since I last tried to write a blog entry. I don't know what stops me or what hinders me from making a go of it like I used to in these very pages.

Age catching up. Jadedness? A misplaced sense of protecting one's privacy? In the facebook and tweeter age that sounds utterly anachronistic.

I have tried maintaining other blogs. For a time, I was active in multiply until I wasn't. Then there are my attempts at a wordpress account using my real name no less. But it still doesn't feel quite right.

Maybe, I need to go back to where it really started. Where I took roots, so to speak.

Ang sinabi ko: No they are not. They’re called unbranded. Fake is when you pass off something not true as real.

Gusto ko talagang sabihin: Tawag diyan ay value shopping. We need not always get the branded ones. What’s important is what we do with the toys/things that we have.

V: Why do some people destroy the stuff of the sidewalk vendors?

Ang sinabi ko: It’s quite complicated. There are many reasons: 1) sidewalks are for people, 2) vendors on the sidewalks means people walk on the streets causing traffic and possibly harm to their bodies, 3) there’s a proper place for everything. It doesn’t mean though that what the stompers are doing is correct.

And then

I was rambling already as I couldn’t stop myself from going into explanatory mode. I explained to her the quandary of vendors, Pinoys buying habits that makes sidewalk vendors a reality, the mandate of the MMDA. Infodump much? In other words, sinabi ko talaga ang gusto kong sabihin, pero syempre in kids speak. Kaya lang baka na-lost na sha. But at the end of it sabi niya: "Kawawa naman pala ang mga tindera." (cue music here:"Manggagawang impormal, Kabalikat sa buhay.")

2.07.2008

Confused

When Knorr came out with its Makulay ang buhay campaign, I was one of those who were swept up in melodic take, if not too subtle strategy to sell vegetables to kids. The TV ads featured healthy-looking children singing the jingle and obviously relishing their souped vegetables (sinabawang gulay). And the copy was really catchy: “Makulay ang buhay sa sinabawang gulay.”

We took our cue from this ad when it came time for me and my groupmates to implement a project for one of our classes. One of the results was a one-minute jingle titled “Bilin ni Bibo Basurahan” You can hear the jingle at our group’s site.

So, it really bothers me now that their new ad somehow overturns whatever leverage the previous campaign gained. In this new radio ad, a teacher is asking her students to classify food into meat and vegetable. The class got the first one correctly, but the following veggies they classified as meat to the consternation of the teacher. And then a voice over comes on to announce that by adding Knorr meat seasoning, vegetable taste like meat.

I know it’s still selling vegetables to kids (via the taste) but it sort of undermines the message of their earlier campaign. Once again, vegetables are treated as substandard fare and needs to be masked as meat for it to become a treat for kids.

The Great Veronica Mars Re-watch

Television Without Pity.com is doing a Veronica Mars Re-watch starting with the Pilot this Saturday, February 9, 2008.

From the TWOP calendar:

The bitch is back, people.

This week we start rewatching Veronica Mars. So either you've seen her kicking asses and taking names for dozens of times already, or you still know nothing about this girl (shame on you), please come and join us in watching and discussing one of the most brilliant series ever.

Feb 9: PilotFeb 16: Credit Where Credit's DueFeb 23: Meet John SmithMar 1: The Wrath of ConMar 8: You Think You Know SomebodyMar 15: Return of the KaneMar 22: The Girl Next DoorMar 29: Like a VirginApr 5: Drinking the Kool-AidApr 12: An Echolls Family ChristmasApr 19: Silence of the LambApr 26: Clash of the Tritons